The inevitable question: Now that the Islanders have an arena....

No. They will have the smallest arena in the league, with the only one being close in Winnipeg. Brooklyn is significantly more populous than Winnipeg, but also faces greater entertainment competition and generally lower interest in hockey. To succeed, the Isles would likely have to operate with a similar cost model, not leaving much room to attracting expensive free agents.

Brooklyn is probably a much more attractive location than Nassau County, but they still wont be able to outspend the big market teams.

At any rate, in the NHL, what tends to attract free agents is management strength, favourable situations, money, emotional attachment and taxes, not location or arena quality. If the Isles are going to attract free agents, it'll have nothing to do with Brooklyn or the Barclays center. It'll be playing with Tavares.

Obviously winning solves everything, but the state of the franchise has to be a factor. No one wants to sign a long term deal only to move their family across North America half way through the deal.

The move to Brooklyn brings long needed stability to the franchise, that's what was accomplished with yesterday's announcement.

Wang has money, we all know that. I wasn't happy about it, but I understood why he was keeping costs as low as possible for the last couple of years. I'd like to think that now that is settled, he will unlock the piggy bank and actually spend like an NHL franchise should. He doesn't have that excuse anymore so I'm guardedly optimistic that he will do just that.

The Isles are filled with young and mostly undeveloped talent, but there is quite a deal of potential there. It's up to the organization to develop them and put them in a position to succeed. One key facet is to bring in some veterans to help in their development. That really hasn't happened so far, but now the Isles have a sales pitch to FA's that is on equal footing with the other teams around the league. It'll still take progress and consistent winning by the product on the ice to lure the big name players, but at least we have an equal chance with the 2nd tier players. Hopefully the move means that we've seen the last of the Rolstons, Pandolfo's, Staios, etc. - one year stop gaps to clear the cap floor and placeholders who have little left in the tank. Instead we'll see 2nd tier players that can actually HELP the team for longer than 1 season.

The new arena should provide the Islanders with new revenue streams they didn't have in NVMC. That alone should give them more money to spend on free agents if Wang or hoever will own them wants to.

Overall though ... winning is the big key.

Don't forget about the possible revenue sharing that the Isles would get in the new CBA. Along with that incredible television contract... the Isles should have some money to spend, it all depends on Wang greenlighting it.

Don't forget about the possible revenue sharing that the Isles would get in the new CBA. Along with that incredible television contract... the Isles should have some money to spend, it all depends on Wang greenlighting it.

From what he has said, I think he'd be more willing to open his wallet instead of forcing Garth to dumpster dive every year in Free Agency.

No. They will have the smallest arena in the league, with the only one being close in Winnipeg. Brooklyn is significantly more populous than Winnipeg, but also faces greater entertainment competition and generally lower interest in hockey. To succeed, the Isles would likely have to operate with a similar cost model, not leaving much room to attracting expensive free agents.

Brooklyn is probably a much more attractive location than Nassau County, but they still wont be able to outspend the big market teams.

At any rate, in the NHL, what tends to attract free agents is management strength, favourable situations, money, emotional attachment and taxes, not location or arena quality. If the Isles are going to attract free agents, it'll have nothing to do with Brooklyn or the Barclays center. It'll be playing with Tavares.

I don't understand why you're looking at Brooklyn in isolation. The Islanders will be in a BETTER position to attract fans from greater NYC than before, by quite a margin. If they can field competitive teams they'll start gaining some fans back and increase the likelihood of defection from the NYR base if they can sustain success.

the biggest thing is that a free agent doesnt have to worry about having to move in two years, anymore. No one wants to sign a contract to play in an undetermined location. Especially if there are families involved.

Also, the columbus thing isnt accurate. Theres a lot more money to be made in and around ny and therefore they can afford to pay players more and thus will be more attractive for free agents.

No. They will have the smallest arena in the league, with the only one being close in Winnipeg. Brooklyn is significantly more populous than Winnipeg, but also faces greater entertainment competition and generally lower interest in hockey. To succeed, the Isles would likely have to operate with a similar cost model, not leaving much room to attracting expensive free agents.

For years 1 and 2 the team could sustain itself on ticket purchases for business entertainment. The mere buzz of hockey and Brooklyn is enough. People outside of New York can only imagine the business entertainment market here. If any of you had any idea how short the trip is from Downtown Manhattan to Barclays, you might begin to understand.

After the novelty, the team will need to win. But things will be different with FA's.

Moreover, I am by no means convinced that the Islanders will continue to run in Wang's provincial ways, nor am I convinced that Ratner will not have a stake. Wang is no longer dealing with scrubs. He's got to up his game, and his standards. This is not a situation like the Giants and Jets who share a facility where the former are class the latter are crass (I can say this as a Jets fan). This is a situation where the Nets are the leaders and the Islanders are the followers. The Islanders will be forced to meet the Nets' standards of operations. As an Islanders fan, that's the best part of this.

Don't forget about the possible revenue sharing that the Isles would get in the new CBA. Along with that incredible television contract... the Isles should have some money to spend, it all depends on Wang greenlighting it.

Back in 1999, as the local cable sports landscape was beginning its metamorphosis into team owned stations like the Yankees’ YES Network, the Islanders inked an extension with Cablevision all the way through the 2030-31 season, for rights fees that escalate from roughly $14 million a year initially to a reported $36 million by the last year of the deal.

That deal is currently valued at $20 million a year. Considering it's the Isles, that is an AMAZING contract.

Just curious, but what makes you think the Players that want that already don't live downtown and take the train out to Long Island to begin with?

Sure they will be closer, but it isn't like they could not have already been living outside of right next to the arena. Most of the Wings live upwards of at least 20 to 30 minutes commute from the Joe Louis.

It's just a hassle to do that. May as well live in Jersey at that point... there's no LIRR stop at Nassau so they'd have to arrange a taxi or limo for EVERY practice. Just not feasible.

If they invest the money into attracting players since they don't have to put it into a new arena completely, then yes. Money helps you to win and the Isles haven't gone all-in in that regard since the new arena project had started.